Air-bag cover hinge with pressure-sensing system

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an airbag cover hinge comprising a textile hinge, which can be connected to the airbag cover as well as to a supporting part surrounding the airbag cover, wherein the airbag cover hinge has a textile base structure, in which stop threads are integrated, the tensile strength of which is higher than of the textile base structure and the length of which is greater than the textile base structure.

The invention relates to an air-bag cover hinge having a textile hinge that can be connected both to the air-bag cover and to a support carrying the air-bag cover.

When the air-bag deploys the air-bag cover opens to enable the air-bag to open out and the air-bag cover hinge enables the air-bag cover to be guided on opening.

An air-bag hinge made of woven fabric or knitted fabric is known from WO 2003/033313 “Inner lining component for vehicles” [U.S. Pat. No. 7,165,781]. Depending on the size of the air-bag cover used, different forces act on the hinge of the air-bag cover when the air-bag deploys. The bigger the air-bag cover or the heavier an air-bag, the greater the forces acting on the hinge that must on the one hand ensure that the air-bag cover opens easily when the air-bag deploys and on the other hand however must ensure that separation of the air-bag cover from the support enclosing it is excluded in all cases so as not to endanger people in the vicinity of the air-bag.

In the case of the hinge of an air-bag cover known from the prior art the hinge configured as woven fabric or knitted fabric tears can tear under unfavorable conditions.

The object of the invention is to design a hinge for an air-bag cover such that it securely prevents tearing or loosening of the hinge for the air-bag cover with cost-effective reproducibility and also enables easy opening of the air-bag cover.

This object of the invention is attained by the concept in the characterizing part of the principal claim.

In other words, a hinge for an air-bag cover is proposed that has a multistage textile base structure in which stop threads are integrated as load-absorption threads that have higher resistance to tearing and a greater length than the textile base structure.

With this design, two systems are integrated, i.e. a system that tears whenever a predetermined tension is exceeded in order to take up most of the resulting tension, and a second system which allows a defined opening of the air-bag cover (opening angle) with a secure hold.

Advantageous embodiments are explained in the independent claims.

The base structure is advantageously configured as knitted fabric so as to be cost effective and provide optimal handling.

In an advantageous embodiment the “stop threads” (load threads) are aligned generally parallel to the tension of the hinge, with uniform distribution of the stop threads over the textile base structure being advantageous to constantly get an adequate quantity of stop threads in the textile base structure e.g. when the hinges are stamped out of a larger piece of goods.

One feasible design is the uniform sequence of two standing threads of the textile base structure and a stop thread (load absorption thread), this sequence however being adapted corresponding to conditions.

In an advantageous embodiment the textile base structure is configured relative to the stop threads (load absorption threads) such that there is initial tearing of the base structure.

Relative to the threads of the textile base structure the stop threads have a greater length and for example are configured meandering, zigzag, tubular, arched, corrugated and/or self-overlapping in their longitudinal direction such that the stop threads have a store that extends substantially transversely and/or longitudinally to the direction of pull.

The proposed multistage structure, comprising a textile base structure and stop threads (load absorption threads), can for its part be embedded in a textile surface pattern, such that when there is tension of the cover hinge, tearing or opening of the textile base structure along with stop threads (load absorption threads) occurs from this textile surface pattern to dismantle forces already occurring from this tearing or opening procedure at least to a certain degree and at the same time to define the travel for opening (opening angle) the air-bag flap.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the diagrams, in which:

FIG. 1 a-FIG. 1 d show an embodiment of the invention in different stages as the hinge is tensioned,

FIG. 1 e-FIG. 1 h show another embodiment in different stages as the hinge is tensioned,

FIGS. 2 and 3 show further designs.

With reference to FIG. 1 a to FIG. 1 d an air-bag cover hinge is indicated at 1, and comprises threads 2 and 3 of a textile base structure 4 here a knitted fabric.

So-called stop threads 5, which are of high-strength (e.g. dtex 1100), are integrated into this textile base structure, whereas the textile base structure (also comprising polyester or other suitable materials) is not made to be of high strength.

The stop threads 5 are aligned generally parallel to tension acting on the hinge on opening of the air-bag cover, and have at least one store 6 where the stop threads extend substantially transversely to the tension.

Integrated thread laying (travel storage) stores (contiguously FIG. 1 a or partial FIG. 1 b) enable load absorption via the strength of the threads and defined opening of the air-bag flap over the possible travel.

Following actuation of the air bag, its cover holding the air bag opens and the textile base structure 4 incorporated in the vicinity of the air-bag cover hinge is expanded on opening of the hinge until it tears. The procedure of loading the hinge is shown schematically in FIGS. 1 c and 1 d. The textile base structure also expands first in the vicinity of the store 6, where the high-strength stop threads 5 permit this expansion of the textile base structure until it tears (load absorption).

In the embodiment of FIG. 1 c for example the store of the stop threads 5 is shown by the meandering or zigzag inlay.

FIG. 1 d shows for example extension of the stop threads released on opening of the air-bag cover with simultaneous load absorption by the stop threads.

The total strength of the air-bag cover hinge 1 is determined depending on the number of stop threads or on the resistance to tearing of these stop threads 5.

In a textile embodiment in each case there can be two (standing) threads 3 of the textile base structure 4 and these can be attached to a stop thread 5 to produce a repeating array of two threads 3 of the textile base structure 4 and one stop thread 5 over the width of the air-bag cover hinge 1. However, it should be understood that according to the circumstances the actual embodiments can be adapted depending on the desired resistance to tearing.

With reference to FIG. 1 c, in another (multistage) opening of the air-bag cover the situation of the air-bag cover hinge 1 is shown, where the threads 3 of the textile base structure 4 are torn by tension (expansion) and the stop threads 5 running transversely and/or longitudinally in the store 6 are aligned according to the tension.

In the case of more tension, the situation according to FIG. 1 d arises due to wider opening of the air-bag cover, where the force-absorbing stop threads 5 both now hold torn apart portions 4 a and 4 b of the textile base structure. Tearing of the entire air-bag cover hinge 1 is securely prevented by the high-strength formation of the stop threads 5. The thread storing unblocks the required travel for opening of the air-bag cover and at the same time prevents unwanted tearing off of the air-bag cover.

The maximal expansion range of the air-bag cover hinge 1, i.e. the spacing of the portions 4 a and 4 b of the base structure 4, is defined by the length of the transverse stop threads 5 in the store 6. The number and resistance to tearing of the stop threads 5 must be set such that the latter absorb residual forces after tearing of the expanded textile base structure 4 (multistage process).

FIGS. 1 f and g show that the stop threads can have different lengths and/or different resistances to tearing relative to one another so as to execute dual-stage or multistage load absorption on opening.

In a further embodiment according to FIG. 2 the stop threads 5 are configured substantially according to the tension of the air-bag cover hinge 1, whereby the stop threads 5 have a certain elasticity and expansion, thereby enabling predetermined load absorption via the textile base structure 4.

After tearing of the threads 3 of the textile base structure 4, holding together of the torn portions 4 a and 4 b of the textile base structure is ensured or the air-bag cover hinge 1 is prevented from fully tearing apart.

In the other embodiments according to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 the stop threads 5 extend as meanders or zigzags in the textile base structure 4 resulting in a “store” configured over the entire length of the stop threads 5 such that the stop threads enable expansion and subsequent tearing of the threads 3 of the textile base structure 4 and thus prevent the portions 4 a and 4 b of the textile base structure 4 from fully tearing apart.

In FIG. 4 the meandering or zigzag stop threads/load absorption threads extend in the store such that the storage travels and strengths define the load absorption in the axis of rotation of the air-bag flap and enable the opening angle of the air-bag flap and then prevent the portions 4 a and 4 b of the textile base structure from fully tearing apart. 

1. An air-bag cover hinge having a textile hinge which can be connected to both the air-bag cover and to a support carrying the air-bag cover wherein the air-bag cover hinge has a textile base structure, in which stop threads are integrated that have a greater resistance to tearing than the textile base structure and that are longer than the textile base structure.
 2. The air-bag cover hinge according to claim 1 wherein a knitted fabric is the textile base structure.
 3. The air-bag cover hinge according to claim 1 wherein the stop threads are aligned generally parallel to the tension of the air-bag cover hinge.
 4. The air-bag cover hinge according to claim 1 wherein the stop threads are distributed uniformly over the textile base structure.
 5. The air-bag cover hinge according to claim 1 wherein there is a repeating array of two standing threads of the textile base structure with a stop thread.
 6. The air-bag cover hinge according to claim 1 wherein the textile base structure can move relative to the stop threads.
 7. The air-bag cover hinge according to claim 1 wherein the stop threads are aligned substantially longitudinally generally parallel to the tension of the hinge, but extending in stores substantially transversely or longitudinally to the tension.
 8. The air-bag cover hinge according to wherein the stop threads extend longitudinally as meanders, zigzags, tubularly, arcuately, in waves and/or self-overlapping in order to allow travel.
 9. The air-bag cover hinge according to claim 1 wherein the textile base structure is imbedded in a textile surface pattern of a knitted fabric.
 10. The air-bag cover hinge according to claim 1 wherein the stop threads have different lengths or different resistance to tearing relative to one another. 